I know other members have done reviews of the AP ROO but I would still like to contribute with mine.
In my humble opinion this is the most beautiful sports watch out there. This timepiece is yet sporty but very elegant and classy at the same time. Goes great with a suit or with jeans and a t-shirt. My love for this particular watch dates back to the late 90s. After owning several AP Royal Oaks (a couple SS Jumbos and several TT Jumbos) one day I finally spotted in person what would become my true grail and what was an unattainable timepiece back then, at least for me and where I was in my career at 26 years of age.
I still remember that day like today. Back in 1998 during a high level meeting with the CEO (Emilio Azcarraga Jean) of Grupo Televisa (the second largest media conglomerate in Latin America) I noticed him wearing what I thought was the nicest AP I've ever seen. Never seen one in person, just in a beautiful gray catalog devoted to the new watch from AP. My "dream watch" was born that day. It was the first ROO to be launched back in 1993, that AP ROO with the blue/grayish unmistakable dial that made me fall in love and it's now a discontinued model.
The reference 25721ST.OO.1000ST.01. is very hard to find as most owners will never part with it. Before purchasing mine in 2007 I had only seen it twice in the wild in 14 years after its launch. Lucky enough mine has a very low serial number below the 200s.
Case Metal: Stainless Steel
Bracelet Material: Stainless Steel with Double-Lock Deployant Clasp
Case Size: 44mm
Weigth: 238 grs with all links on bracelet
Calibre:2226/2840
The case is as solid as an AP ROO can get, just big, heavy and thick as it can get. This watch has the move beautiful 'chamfers' that you can get on a watch. The pushers and crown are wrapped with a rubber-like material called 'Therban' which is a high performance elastomer that is fireproof to very high temperatures.
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The bezel is secured with eight hexagonal nuts/screws that go through the bezel and case and are fastened by screws caps (almost looking like cylinders) that come in from the case back. The protective gasket under the bezel goes all the way down inside the case. The movement is encased in a anti-magnetic casing that is visible once you remove the case back. The cover for the anti-magnetic casing is secured with four miniature screws. Before anyone can take a look at the movement inside a ROO they will have to remove the case back and then the cover for the AM casing. I haven't been brave enough to do it.
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The bracelet is just perfection. The matte and polished finish of it couldn't be better. The construction of it is solid and very heavy. The clasp is very secure and comfortable as my watch comes with the first generation of clasps where the inner part is a solid stainless steel polished thin 'a la' Brevete like on the first gen Royal Oaks.
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The dial is superb with a gorgeous 'Clous de Paris' tappiserie finish in a blue/grayish color than can only be found on the 25721ST.OO.1000ST.01. The hands are white with luminous material and they provide the perfect contrast with the blue/grayish dial and the white numerals of the chronos. My dial has seen better days as the previous owner had some damage on it before I bought it but IMHO this way it has more character. This watch is just so perfect that it needed some imperfection to it and I really don't mind. Something beautiful about this watch and that I love is that the 'date loupe' is built into the movement opposed to being built onto the dial.
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I think there's nothing else that can be said about this watch. To me this is the perfect watch and my one and only grail. If you can buy one as you will never regret it. Finally a couple wrist shots for your viewing pleasure.
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